Retractable key chain bracelet



United States Patent [72] Inventors Michael L. Sledge, ,Ir.

1400 E. 55th Place, 60615; I Alfonso W. Hammer, 9725 Yale, Chicago Ill.I [21] Appl. No. 743,560 [22] Filed July 9, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 15,1970 [54] RETRACTABLE KEY CHAIN BRACELET 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 224/28 [51] Int. Cl. A44c 5/00 [50] Field 01 Search .Z224/28,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,758 1/1917 Delaney224/28X 8/1923 Morrison; 224/5(.7)UX 1,567,783 12/1925 Best FOREIGNPATENTS 590,104 3/1925 France 224/28-1 807,979 7/1951 Germany 224/28.5998,567 7/1965 GreatBritain 224/5 Primary ExaminerGera1d M. ForlenzaAssistant Examiner-Robert J. Spar AttorneyMo1inare, Allegretti, Newitt &Witcoff ABSTRACT: A bracelet with a retractable key chain wound on aspring-biased winding drum. The key is fastened to the end of the chainand retained in a pouch on the bracelet. The key is removable from thepouch, and the attached chain withdraws from the winding drum to allowextension of the key.

RETRACTABLE KEY CHAIN BRACELET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a key chain bracelet and, in particular, to a keychain bracelet having a retractable key chain attached to the bracelet.

Often keys are kept on a key ring in a persons pocket or purse. Whenkeys are needed one must find the key ring in his pocket or purse, pullout the proper key and insert it in alock. Thus'when it is dark, forexample, and one wishes to enter his car or house, it becomes quitedifiicult to find a key. Not only is this irritating, but also anemergency situation may require opening a door quickly. Being unable tofind the key to the door will, of course, prevent speedy entry.

To cope with such emergency situations, it is desirable to have quickand easy access to a key. It is also-desirable'that such access beprovided by an inexpensive device. .Additionally, it is desirable that akey holding device provide maximum protection for keys to prevent themfrom being lost, misplaced or dropped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a principal aspect the present invention ofakey chain bracelet adapted to fit a persons wrist provides means foreasy and quick access to a key or keys. The-braceletincludes an attachedpouch for receiving the keys and a strand with one'end connected withthe keys and the opposite end connected with strand retractor means. Thestrand retractor means are also attached to the adjustable wrist strap.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved keyholder.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide a key holderwhich may be worn on the wrist yet which is not bulky or burdensome tothe wearer.

Still another object of the present invention is to providean adjustablewrist strap adaptable to be worn on various sizes of wrlsts.

One further object of theinvention is to providea key chain,

bracelet including a pouch and a retractable strand for holding keyswhile they are in the pouch. The strand may be extended when the keysare removed from the'pouch so that they'may be inserted into a door lockwhile still being held'by the retrac- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGSIn the detailed description which follows reference will be made to thedrawings comprised of the following FIGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a key chain bracelet ofthe presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a partial cross'sectional view of the key chain bracelet shownin FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I IG. 1 illustrates, in aperspective view and FIG. 2, in a cross-sectional view, the inventionwhich includes'an adjustable wrist strap having an attached pouch 12 andan attached strand retractor means 14 with a strand 36 extending fromthe retractor means M'through an'opening 55 in flap 18 of pouch to a key60.

The strap 10 and pouch 12 are 'preferablymanufactured from the samematerial, for example a vinyl material or leather. Alternatively, thestrap it) may be a continuous, expanding, elastic or metal band with acomplimentary vinylor' leather pouch 12. The strap 10 illustrated in theFIGS. includes first and second ends 24 and 26 respectively. A'buckle253 is attached to the first end ZAand is adopted to cngage'with holes30 defined in the second end 26 in order to secure the strap about theusers wrist.

The pouch l2'includes a key receiving portion 16 with a flap 18. A' snap20 on flap 18 allows closure of the pouch 12.. Alternative closuremeans'such as a clip or button may be utilized to fasten flap 18.Moreover, the flap 18 may be eliminated entirely. However, flap 18 ispreferred since it cooperates with the key 60 to retain the key 60within the pouch 12. The key 60 is thereby maintained in a protectedposition, safe from loss, should the supporting strand 36 break.

An alternative construction of the pouch 12 provides for an enclosedpouch with a slit opening in the exposed side adapted to receive keys.The enclosed pouch is biased by a spring so that the slit is normallyclosed. To open the pouch, the wearer manually applies pressure to thesides of the pouch thereby causing the slit to open exposing the keys.

The pouch 12 is slidably attached to the strap 10 by the stripof=material 22 whichpas ses around the strap 10 and is stitched to thebackside of the pouch 12. Alternatively the pouch 12 may be stitcheddirectly onto the strap 10. However, the illustrated construction ispreferred because variously sized, shaped or colored pouches 12 may besubstituted depending upon the size and shape of the key 12 or keys.Moreover, a

'pouch'12 may be substituted for holdingmaterial other than for keys orin addition to keys.

The'retractor means 14 is also attached to the strap 10. The

. 'retractor means 14 is attached by means of binder tabs32 and 34cooperating with pins 4l2and respectively. The binder tabs 32 and 34 arefabricated from the same material as the strap 10 andipouch' 12 and arestitched or otherwise attached to-the strap 10. For example the tabs 32and 3.4 may cooperate with openings (not shown) perforated on a linealong the longitudinal axis of the band. Thus the tabs 32 and 34 areadjustable and may be replaced or repaired. The strand 36, for'exam--'ple nylonthr'ead, is attached to the key 60 and extends into ther'etractor means 14. The retractor means 14 holds the strand "'36taut.When the key 60 is removed from the pouch t2, the

"strand36may be extended by pulling on the key 60.

Referring now especially to FIG. 2 there is shown, in a cross-sectionalview, the construction of the retractor means 14. The retractor means 14includes a housing 38 which has pins-40 and 42 inserted in its oppositeends. Rigidly affixed in the center of the housing is a vertical, axialrod 44 perpendicular to the'plane of the strap 10. Rotatably fixed onthe rod 44 is adrum' 46. The drum 46 is spring biased by means of aspring 48 torevolve in a clockwise direction about the rod 44.

' Thus, the nylon strand or thread 36 extending through an opening 50 ina housing cap 52 winds about the drum 46 in a channel 54 of that drumas. The end 56 of the thread 36 -passes through an opening defined inthe channel 54 and is knotted and held in a locked position by a drumcap 58. Thus,

' the thread 36 is continuously biased to be wound around the drum 46 inthechanne'l 54, but may be distended until the thread 36 is entirelyunwound from the drum 46.

The biased strand or thread 36 continually places tension on the key'60in the pouch 12. If the flap 18 'is removed or if the s'littedembodimento f'the pouch described above issued, the

head or top 62 of the key 64) acts as a stop means to prevent the nylonthread from passing through the opening 50 in the -ho'us'ingcap52.Alternatively, a stop or ring (not shown) may be attached to the nylonthread 36 between the retractor 'meansil l'and-p'ouch 12 to insure thatthe thread 36 will not be 2. The bracelet of claim 1 wherein said strandretractor to bias said drum about said axis; and wherein said strand Hcomprises a nylon cord attached to said drum and extending through anopening in said housing.

4. The bracelet of claim 3 wherein said strand includes stop meansexternal said housing attached to said strand to prevent withdrawal ofsaid strand through said opening into said housing.

